A Quick Fix for Student’s Spelling Mistakes
Spelling mistakes: they seem like a never-ending battle! “How do you spell…..?” “I don’t know how to spell…” may be familiar statements in many classrooms. …
Teacher Tips for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences always seem to sneak up on you, don’t they? A quick 15-20 minute conference takes a lot of time to prepare for and…
Favorite Mentor Text for Teaching Opinion Writing
Opinion writing is always a fun writing genre to teach. Students already seem to have an opinion on EVERYTHING…as I’m sure you are aware! But,…
3 Anchor Charts for Teaching Nonfiction Point of View
Teaching the point of view in a nonfiction text can be a tricky task; it is not as clear-cut as the point of view in…
Activities for Teaching 5 Types of Nonfiction Text Structures
Nonfiction text structures are the way in which a text is organized by the author. It is an important skill when reading informational text that…
Three Mini-Lessons for Teaching Students to Make Inferences with Pictures
As your readers continue to dig deep into text, making inferences is an important skill for them to practice. We make inferences every day without…
I Need A Hug: 5 Meaningful Activities About Friendship
“I Need a Hug” by Aaron Blabey is a sweet story of a porcupine that just needs a hug but all of the other animals…
5 Mini-Lessons to Teach Procedural Writing
Teaching procedural writing is such a fun writing genre to teach. Kids come in contact with procedural texts all the time, they just may not…
Why is Reading Aloud Important?
There is something so special about reading with students, hearing their excitement, listening to their questions, and having discussions. Reading aloud provides a connection between…
A Guide to Meaningful Reading Conferences
Reading conferences are one the best parts of reading workshop. I know it may not always feel that way; you may feel unsure of how…
A Flicker of Hope: Activities of Hope & Resilience
“A Flicker of Hope” is a beautiful book about a little candle whose flame is not as bright as it once was. The story is…
Close Reading: Giving Students a Purpose for Repeated Reading
For teachers, close reading can sometimes feel intimidating. With limited time, how can students complete meaningful readings AND respond? To students, close reading can seem…